Linthoi Chanambam of Manipur etched her name in the history books by becoming the first Indian judoka to win a gold medal at the prestigious Berlin Junior European Cup 2025.
The 18-year-old from Mayang Imphal, Imphal West, clinched the top podium in the -63kg weight category, marking a significant milestone in her career. This victory also represents a remarkable transition from her earlier success in the -57kg category, where she won the world title at the 2022 Cadet World Championships in Sarajevo.
Competing against 618 athletes from 37 countries, Linthoi, representing the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), delivered a stellar performance throughout the tournament. In the final, she defeated a top-seeded judoka from Poland, securing a landmark win for Indian judo on the European circuit.
